Do I like it? I hated it a lot more a few months ago when spy shots were leaked. It will take a bit to grow on me I’m sure but it is definitely heading in that direction… Thoughts?
https://www.autoblog.com/2020/09/02/2021-mercedes-benz-s-class-revealed/
I saw the Edmunds take on it. My takeaways:
Augmented reality HUD … could be the next big thing in auto infotainment if done right
Looking forward to extensive road tests to see how well MB’s new autonomous driving works
Still the class leader and doesn’t need a brash grille to call attention to itself.
I6 could be a very smooth base engine, glad to see they are coming back somewhat.
Hmm. I am not sure how I feel about the new screen setup. Still love the S class, though.
I get that it’s the direction of designs overall, but that’s a bit TOO much screen in that interior. Looks (and I’m sure feels) incredibly comfortable, though.
The other problem is that the German design language has been so carefully appropriated by other brands (in particularly, Hyundai/Kia) that it’s become increasingly difficult to distinguish the real thing from facsimile.
In the 80s/90s, there was nothing that came even remotely close to the S-class in style or execution. Nothing. Now, there’s a bunch of examples that - on the surface, at least - are pretty darn similar, and could probably fool the average buyer if you removed the badges.
Agree with all that you said. Seems they are taking some of their design cues from Tesla. Not a bad thing, but no longer the originality and class leader that the S was not too long ago.
Have leased one consistently from 2004 through 2019, and I think my 2019 is by far the best. The W223 may very well replace my 2019 at lease end, but I am glad I have another year and a half or so for it to grow on me.
King of the class is back…
Looks like an older model Honda Accord.
Rear looks like they let Hyundai / Kia designers help them. Otherwise, Im sure it’s going to be ahead of the rivals in its class. The screen in middle I dont get why they had to copy Tesla.
Based on the Tesla vs Luxury Car thread, maybe that target audience does not want buttons/knobs to control things? Just the latest tech. Personally I don’t like it either.
The front end is completely ruined by the sensor, it really looks like an afterthought. All they had to do was put the emblem on the grille and integrate the sensor into the emblem.
That interior looks great though.
Yeah, the proportions of the trunk, especially, look very Genesis G90 to me.
While I like the overall simplicity and lack of bling, it’s almost a little TOO unadorned. Don’t like the pop-out door handles, and, from some angles, the car looks oddly proportioned (but looks great from other angles). The grille looks just plain nasty to me (especially the “lip” surrounding the outer edge).
While I wish cars would retain more physical controls (esp for HVAC), screens are simply the way the market is moving. I think the interior looks amazing.
To me, this is still easily the car that defines its class.
Mercedes has done their sensors like that since they launched distronic back in early 2000s.
Exactly what I was thinking. At best, it looks like it came off the A class, which is their budget line…
I thought the tails/rear were very Genesis like.
Someone just got quoted $8K DAS, $2555 a month for a $127K MSRP lol
That front sensor - yikes. call my old school but I prefer some tactile buttons in there.
looks as plush as hell inside though. Very much an S class in that way.
Front end looks like enlarged A class… Rear looks like Hyundai…
Interior looks fine… I like tactile buttons where I can touch.
I still prefer the look of previous gen.(gen 6). Looks sharper.
Doesn’t mean they should still be doing it. I know Genesis is pretty notorious for doing that as well. Toyota did well integrating them into their emblems.
And the rest of it looks like a huge C- and E-Class…
They put them in the emblems for all the other models but they’ve done them this way for the S-class as far as I remember.
As others have pointed out, I’m a huge fan of the front and interior but the back definitely needs some work. It reminds me of old Hyundai/Accord.
The A-class was the introduction to the new body language they would introduce, similar to the C class back in 2015.
Are the headlights going to keep getting smaller until they just dissapear?
